WNBA Locker Room Access Sparks New Controversy for Valkyries

Caitlin Clark called the Golden State Valkyries’ championship run “ridiculous” in an interview released this week.

The Indiana Fever star made the comments on Kylie Kelce’s podcast “Not Gonna Lie.”

The episode was recorded on Oct. 29 during Game 6 of the WNBA Finals.

Two days later, the Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in Game 7 at Chase Center.

It was Golden State’s first title in only its second season.

Clark pointed to Valkyries owner Joe Lacob’s bold promise from the team’s announcement.

“He literally said on stage, ‘We’re going to win a championship in five years or less,’” Clark said.

“And I was like, ‘Oh, manifesting at its finest.’”

“And here we are two years later. I’m like, ‘Well, do I love that?’ Because I’m not playing, but they are.”

She added that the Valkyries’ rapid rise is “awesome” and “cool.”

Fans immediately seized on her words.

One wrote: “Caitlin dog whistling to the Valkyries front office and Fever front office at the same time.”

Others went straight to recruiting.

“Hi, Caitlin. The Bay Area is great for Iowans, we do really well here,” one fan wrote.

“And the Hawkeyes are on a lot. Weather is September year-round.”

Another fan aimed a message at the Valkyries front office: “Get her to the Bay yesterday, Valks.”

A third fan made the case in merchandise terms: “Clark Valkyries jersey would feed families here.”

One fan stuck with Clark’s point about how fast the franchise was built.

“It starts at the top of the franchise and trickles down,” they wrote.

Clark’s Indiana Fever season ended in the first round against the Las Vegas Aces.

The Valkyries, meanwhile, celebrated their championship with a parade across both sides of San Francisco Bay on Wednesday.

The celebration began with a rally on the Oakland waterfront.

Mayor Barbara Lee, who had just won reelection, addressed the crowd.

“We’re in the midst of greatness,” Lee said.

“This championship has brought us phenomenal women who showed us. First, it was five years, they did it in two years.”

Lacob acknowledged the speed of the achievement.

“I never thought we could do that within two, we certainly were trying,” he said.

“But thanks to Ohemaa and Jess and Natalie and all these great players, we obviously did achieve the unthinkable.”

Coach Natalie Nakase credited the team’s bond and fan support.

“Love is the most powerful thing in the world, and these guys embody love,” Nakase said.

“They care for each other. And to be honest, though, it did start in the very first game we had and it started with Ballhalla. You guys gave us that roar, that hostility, that care.”

After the rally, the team boarded ferry boats and crossed the bay for a parade along the Embarcadero.

Kiah Stokes told CBS News Bay Area she had never been on a ferry before.

“So far, the turnout is amazing, but it’s just great vibes great people and I can’t wait to celebrate this championship,” Stokes said.

In San Francisco, a massive crowd lined the parade route.

Williams kicked off the parade by beating a drum — a pregame ritual at Chase Center.

The route stretched from the Ferry Building to 2nd and King streets near Oracle Park.

CBS News Bay Area reporter Kelsi Thorud described the scene from a double-decker bus.

“I don’t think I’ve ever seen anything quite like this,” Thorud said.

“You can see the sea of violet just lining the street, here in the Embarcadero.”

“It is the perfect day, the sun is out, there is not a cloud in the sky.”